Lacson-Sotto tandem in 2022 launched
MANILA TIMES
SEN. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd on Wednesday launched their tandem for the 2022 national elections as they vowed to cleanse the government of misfits to restore public trust.
Lacson and his longtime ally, Sotto, virtually announced their candidacy for the presidential and vice presidential elections in next year’s polls amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
“Between me and Tito Sotto are more than 80 years of honest, dedicated, and competent public service,” said Lacson, Partido Reporma chairman.
“We have the proven competence, integrity, and courage to lead the country so we can rise from the rut we are in,” he said.
Lacson added, “As we speak, we are in the process of drawing up a roadmap or a master plan that will serve as our platform of government that we intend to present to our people. After all, at the proper time, it is you who will decide if we are worthy of your trust in leading our nation.”
For his part, Sotto, in Filipino, said, “We come to a point where we can no longer ignore what is happening to our government, to our economy.”
“Tama na (Enough). We need to respond. We need to take action. We need to work together to prevent and correct mistakes. This is the beginning,” said Sotto, Nationalist People’s Coalition chairman.
“We promise that we will not stop this fight until the order of our country is restored. That’s a promise. And when we make a promise, we will never break it,” Sotto said.
In Filipino and English, Lacson said, “I could not stress it enough – the right leaders must exemplify ‘leadership by example’ – not by words, but by actions. No leader can succeed if he cannot practice what he preaches.”
The virtual launch, which lasted for about 30 minutes showed short messages of support from the senators’ longtime friend, Information Technology Secretary Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan 2nd, former defense secretary Renato de Villa, Filipino-Chinese civic leader Teresita Ang-See and Robina Gokongwei-Pe whom Lacson saved from her kidnappers.
